French left seeks united front in presidential election

Media reported in February 2017 on the efforts undertaken by French socialist candidate Benoît Hamon for the presidential election to reach agreements with other left-wing candidates in order to present a united front.

While an agreement was reached with Green candidate Yannick Jadot on 23 February, talks with leftist Jean-Luc Mélenchon proved to be unsuccessful.

• Primary Source

ESO: Key source: France Presidential Election 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-presidential-election-2017/

EurActiv, 28.02.17: Hamon and Jadot call for end to Lyon-Turin rail project http://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/hamon-and-jadot-call-for-end-to-lyon-turin-rail-project/

France24, 23.02.17: Green Party candidate Jadot ends French presidential bid, backs Socialist Hamon http://www.france24.com/en/20170223-green-candidate-jadot-ends-french-presidential-bid-backs-socialist-hamon-france

Politico, 23.02.17: French Green leader gives up election bid, endorses Hamon http://www.politico.eu/article/french-green-leader-gives-up-election-bid-endorses-hamon/

Deutsche Welle, 23.02.17: French Green candidate Jadot drops from presidential race http://dw.com/p/2YATN

France24, 27.02.17: French left-wing candidates fail to forge alliance in presidential race http://www.france24.com/en/20170227-france-prensidential-election-left-wing-candidates-hamon-melenchon-no-alliance

RFI, 27.02.17: Socialist candidate Hamon gains ally, loses another as French Left looks forward to elections http://en.rfi.fr/france/20170227-socialist-candidate-hamon-gains-ally-loses-another-french-left-looks-forward-electio

Reuters, 17.02.17: French left candidates seek to bridge policy gulf before election http://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-election-idUSKBN15W14N

TIME, 17.02.17: France's Leftwing Candidates Consider Uniting to Trounce Marine Le Pen http://time.com/4674432/jean-luc-melenchon-and-benoit-hamon-pair-up/

RFI, 18.02.17: French Socialist candidate Hamon touts left unity on Portugal visit http://en.rfi.fr/europe/20170218-socialist-presidential-candidate-hamon-touts-french-left-unity-portugal-visit

EurActiv, 23.02.17: Mélenchon and Hamon unable to overcome differences on Europe http://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/melenchon-and-hamon-unable-to-overcome-differences-on-europe/

France24, 10.03.17: Socialist Hamon faces battle for party support as heavyweights eye Macron http://www.france24.com/en/20170310-hamon-faces-uphill-battle-socialist-heavyweights-eye-macron-vote

The Guardian, 08.03.17: France's rightwing scandals leave Socialists struggling to be heard https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/08/france-right-wing-scandals-socialists-struggling-heard-hamon-melenchon

The Guardian, 29.03.17: Benoît Hamon asks French left to unite after former Socialist PM backs Macron https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/29/france-manuel-valls-backs-emmanuel-macron-presidential-election

Euro|Topics: Debates, March 2017: Manuel Valls to vote for Macron http://www.eurotopics.net/en/176905/manuel-valls-to-vote-for-macron

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